Sheffield Hallam University Win Ice Hockey Winter Varsity 2011
by The Winter Varsity competition is held in February every year and consists of Ice Hockey, Skiing and Snowboarding competitions which are competed in by Students of the Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield to determine which University will be crowned Winter Varsity champions.
Sheffield Winter Varsity Ice Hockey 2011
The Sheffield Winter Varsity Ice Hockey game was held for its second year at the Motorpoint Sheffield Arena infront of 4,500 spectators, following on from last years event held at the Arena infront of 3,800 fans. Previously Sheffield Hallam University had won all previous six Ice Hockey Winter Varsity games between the two Universities but had only claimed the overall Winter Varsity crown once (in 2010)
In the run up to the game, pre game sales had been smashed and with a big walk up attendance expected it was clear that the game would see another record breaking attendance for the biggest game on the Winter Varsity calender.
Sheffield Hallam University were as ever clear favourites to win the game, but it was an even opening ten minutes of fast, hard hitting hockey which was expected. It was however the University of Sheffield who took the lead on 9.30 sending the University fans into raptures. Sheffield Hallam replied quicky and the game was tied three minutes later after Emrys Sharples fired the puck into the net on 12.44. It was then that the penaltys started to flow, starting with Chris Bryniarski going to the bin for slashing, followed by Dan Mawer who was assessed 2 minutes for interference giving the University of Sheffield a 5 on 3 powerplay chance. Jack Ware and Sam Cooper were then both sent to sit for two minutes for roughing in front of the Hallam goal, before Michael Szollosy scored to put the University of Sheffield back into the lead on the powerplay after 17.29 and the period ended with the University of Sheffield up by a goal.
The Second period saw Sheffield Hallam once again tie up the game after Nick Manning scored on a powerplay opportunity after David Perks received 2 minutes for charging after 24 minutes of play. The game was tied for a mere ten seconds as straight from the face off the University of Sheffield went down the ice and retook the lead through a goal from Andrew Terentjev.
Arguebly the turning point of the game was with the clock on 0.00 at the end of the second period, as Hallam were awarded a goal. Matthew Jeffcock skated into the University zone with 4 seconds to spare before deking the University netminder and placing the puck into the net. The red goal light flashing a split second before the end of period buzzer sounded, and the goal stood, making the game 3-3 at the end of the second period.
The third and final period was immensely tense as both Universities pushed for a winner, Hallam managed to kill off a 5 on 3 powerplay, before killing off yet another chance as Bryniarski received his third penalty of the game on 54.15.
It was Sheffield Hallams powerplay which was the deadliest however, and when Dan Boardman received a minor penalty for hooking with just three minutes remaining, Nick Manning scored his second of the game to put Hallam into the lead for the first time with just 1.49 left on the clock. The University of Sheffield called a timeout in the final minute with a face off in the Hallam zone and pulled their netminder, but an intercepted pass by Nick Manning saw him score his hat trick goal into an empty net putting Sheffield Hallam University 5-3 infront with only 30 seconds to go.
Sheffield Hallam University won their seventh successive Ice Hockey Winter Varsity match and keep their unbeaten streak alive, but it was as clock as ever with the University of Sheffield being behind for just 1.49 of the full 60 minutes, unfortunately for them it was the wrong 2 minutes to be behind.
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